Exquisite — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ek-ˈskwi-zət/ ex·qui·site

Meaning & Definition of Exquisite

Exquisite (adjective)

  1. marked by flawless craftsmanship or by beautiful, ingenious, delicate, or elaborate execution
  2. marked by the quality or power of finely distinguishing, by deep sensitivity, or by subtle understanding
  3. accomplished, perfected

Exquisite (noun)

  1. one who is overly fastidious in dress or ornament

Exquisite (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. extreme in degree, power, or effect

    "felt such exquisite anger at being betrayed by a so-called friend that she could hardly think straight"

    similar: acute, almighty, blistering, deep, dreadful, excruciating, explosive, fearful, fearsome, ferocious, fierce, frightful, furious, ghastly, hard, heavy, heavy-duty, hellacious, intense, intensive, keen, profound, terrible, vehement, vicious, violent
    related: accentuated, aggravated, concentrated, deepened, emphasized, enhanced, heightened, intensified, magnified, stressed, exhaustive, thorough, harsh, rigorous, severe
    opposite: light, moderate, soft
    near: feeble, weak, shallow, superficial, moderated, qualified, alleviated, eased, lightened, toned (down), abated, decreased, diminished, lessened, reduced, subdued

  2. having qualities that appeal to a refined taste

    "exquisite pen-and-ink drawings of city scenes grace the walls of the formal restaurant"

    similar: choice, dainty, delicate, elegant, fine, rare, recherché, select
    related: bijou, jewellike, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special, elite, exclusive, classic, excellent, fabulous, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous, noble, outstanding, par excellence, premium, prime, sensational, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, transcendent, unsurpassed, wonderful, ultrarare
    near: coarse, gross, kitsch, kitschy, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, tasteless, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar, commercial, mass-produced, popular, common, ordinary, average, lesser, mediocre, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine, second-class, second-rate, deficient, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting

  3. satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness

    "waiters at the wedding reception served exquisite hors d'oeuvres from silver trays"

    similar: airy, dainty, delicate, nuanced, refined, subtle
    related: choice, elegant, extraordinary, incomparable, peerless, preeminent, prime, rare, select, superior, superlative, supreme, transcendent, unsurpassed, picked, selected, fine, fragile, frail
    opposite: robust, strong, sturdy
    near: coarse, crude, rough, common, ordinary, average, fair, indifferent, mediocre, medium, middling, run-of-the-mill, second-rate

Exquisite (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in swell, clotheshorse

    similar: clotheshorse, swell, blade, cavalier, dasher, coxcomb, fancy Dan, popinjay, beau, Beau Brummell, buck, dandy, dude, fop, gallant, jay, lounge lizard, macaroni, pretty boy
    opposite: slob, sloven

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Exquisite

The most common words with a similar meaning to Exquisite:

acute, almighty, blistering, deep, dreadful, excruciating, explosive, fearful, fearsome, ferocious, fierce, frightful, furious, ghastly, hard, heavy, heavy-duty, hellacious, intense, intensive, keen, profound, terrible, vehement, vicious, violent, choice, dainty, delicate, elegant, fine, rare, recherché, select, airy, nuanced, refined, subtle, clotheshorse, swell

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Exquisite

Words with the opposite meaning of Exquisite:

light, moderate, soft, robust, strong, sturdy, slob, sloven

Related Words for Exquisite

accentuated, aggravated, concentrated, deepened, emphasized, enhanced, heightened, intensified, magnified, stressed, exhaustive, thorough, harsh, rigorous, severe, bijou, jewellike, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special, elite, exclusive, classic, excellent, fabulous, first-class, first-rate, grand

Near Antonyms of Exquisite

feeble, weak, shallow, superficial, moderated, qualified, alleviated, eased, lightened, toned (down), abated, decreased, diminished, lessened, reduced, subdued, coarse, gross, kitsch, kitschy, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, tasteless, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar

Word Forms of Exquisite

Derived words: exquisitely (adverb), exquisiteness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Exquisite

Middle English exquisit, from Latin exquisitus, past participle of exquirere to search out, from ex- + quaerere to seek

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Exquisite

What does "Exquisite" mean?

"Exquisite" means marked by flawless craftsmanship or by beautiful, ingenious, delicate, or elaborate execution. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: marked by flawless craftsmanship or by beautiful, ingenious, delicate, or elaborate execution. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Exquisite"?

Other words for "Exquisite" include acute, almighty, blistering, deep, dreadful, excruciating, explosive and fearful. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Exquisite" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Exquisite"?

There are 119 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Exquisite". Common alternatives include acute, almighty, blistering, deep, dreadful, excruciating, explosive, fearful, fearsome and ferocious.

What is the opposite of "Exquisite"?

Antonyms of "Exquisite" include light, moderate, soft, robust, strong, sturdy, slob and sloven. Near antonyms include feeble, weak, shallow and superficial.

How do you use "Exquisite" in a sentence?

Examples of "Exquisite" in a sentence: "felt such exquisite anger at being betrayed by a so-called friend that she could hardly think straight"; "exquisite pen-and-ink drawings of city scenes grace the walls of the formal restaurant"; "waiters at the wedding reception served exquisite hors d'oeuvres from silver trays".

Is "Exquisite" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Exquisite" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Exquisite"?

"Exquisite" is pronounced /ek-ˈskwi-zət/ and divided into syllables as ex·qui·site.

What is the origin of the word "Exquisite"?

"Exquisite" comes from Middle English exquisit, from Latin exquisitus, past participle of exquirere to search out, from ex- + quaerere to seek. First known use: 15th century.